Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Sukhothai Historical Park in Sukhothai, Thailand

This super laid back Sukhothai province will always have a very special place in my heart. Aside from the fact that I get to spend here 2 adventure-filled years of my life as a teacher, there is no way I can ever forget some of the kindest, warmest, and friendliest people I have ever met and known in this lifetime. 














 
 




Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Grand Wat Pi Pat in Thungsaliam, Sukhothai, Thailand

I have been to quite a few places in Thailand and I can't seem to count the many times I get amazed by the beauty and cultural richness of this land. Each place I have been to brings so much wonderful moments in my memory. However, nothing can ever replace the joy and happiness I feel when I think about Thungsaliam. It is a very simple district as manifested by the simplicity of the people's way of life. The people here live a simple life yet their lives I must say are so full of contentment, bliss, and love. I am so blessed to have experienced the genuine kindness and warmest acceptance of the people in Thungsaliam. Some of these people are my neighbors, co-teachers, and students. Thank you Lord for this life changing encounter with your people here in the Land of Smiles. 











Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Loy Krathong and Candle Festival 2013

First time to witness Thailand's one of the most celebrated festivals, the Loy Krathong and Candle Festival. I was thrilled and amazed of the beautiful sights; the creatively and colorfully made Kratongs, the huge lanterns, the spectacular fireworks, the overwhelming crowd of people, foreigners and Thais alike, the stunning full moon, and mostly, the undeniable rich and vibrant culture of Thailand. I can't thank God enough for the chance He had given me to see with my very own eyes this grand and colorful festival in Thailand. Indeed, amazing Thailand! :) 






Saturday, November 16, 2013

Happy 27th Birthday Gen!

Warning! This is just a random message. Haha. I’m not really good at this but I’ll give it a try. Are you ready? I say you should be because I could win an Oscars for this. Haha… Kidding…
Time to get serious. Well, the heaven has blessed you with another year to continue your existence. How I wish my sister did too!
Anyway, may you live on with more amazing graces. For sure that will come to life. I know it. It’s even too certain. Why? Well… You’re undeniably angelic and I’m sort of a fantastically naughty friend! Haha. How’s that? But you should know I’m trying to be a little less of that and it’s crazy! Haha. I hope I could have your silence and your seriousness. Not totally though, just a slice of it will do. Aside from that, I think it would be amazing to emulate your wisdom on things. You know what to say and man, you’re good at that! I mean, woman! Really. With that, I can tell your parents must be proud to have you as their daughter. You’re their first God-given gift as a couple and at this moment, they must be really in a state of bliss that you’re here, alive and kicking. You’re truly one of the few (count me in! please?) May your younger siblings carry on the goodness in your heart. Moreover, may your one true love be on his way the soonest. Or else I will find him for you and drag him to your feet. Haha. Lols! Oh my that’s absurd. But seriously, I really hope you’ll get to meet him already. Hurray! Go go girl! Happy Birthday Gen!


Monday, October 7, 2013

A Birthday Letter

I gladly received a 2 page birthday letter from a friend who is undeniably close to my heart. Actually, his letter sounded like his personal reflection on important things in life and by chance, perhaps along the way, he remembered this is supposed to be a letter for me, and so, right before he ended the letter, he greeted me a happy birthday! cute!!hahaaha! Honestly, his uniqueness, imperfections, and generally almost everything about him simply astonish me, even "enthrall" me most of the time! hahaha! (for emphatic purposes). He definitely has his incredible ways of making me adore and hate him at the same time! hahaha! (at times when he would forcibly justify that "those" are just his "ways" of showing his affection) okay, fine! hehehe. I love this person nonetheless. I choose to love the people I claim to love. Although admittedly, most of the time, my love is not perfect, but I do. I sincerely, really do. :) So here it is... I decided to post his letter here because aside from the fact that this is considerably one special birthday present, I truly treasure the friendship that comes with it. Heaven knows! :) Someday, when time and age take my memory away, I want to be reminded again of this one beautiful blessing that ever happened in my life and mostly, this worthwhile life we share.

Thank you so much Marko! Knowing me, I guess you do have the idea of how I appreciate this a lot! :)

ife, including our future, is full of uncertainties, and having such thinking in mind, we begin to suppose that our future will be formless if we don’t plan the future perfectly as we want. So, we, humans, begin to envision what life we would have at a certain age. Then, the next thing is we are caught very busy preparing the future that we believe we will have. A woman tends to think much of what kind of husband she would have and how many kids she ever wants to raise. She thinks of becoming a full time housewife if she thinks being a working mom/wife would be difficult to maintain the balance between her family and work, keeping both healthy. She starts thinking about how to instill discipline and manage her children. The same holds true to men. There are a lot of things running in our heads as regards to our respective future, and because we get too excited and overwhelmed about it, we tend to lose sight of the beauty of today. We mostly fail to be glad about what we have by now, most especially the simple, little blessings right in front of us. We must see joy in all the blessings we receive no matter how big or small.

I was like that before (and sometimes I am still like that). I tend to think much of my future, thus overlooking what I have at present. I fail to appreciate the simple things which bring me joy in some ways. It’s never wrong to plan ahead because our future really is our destination, but I thought that if we spend too much for the future, we lose the balance of enjoying the present, as well. I came to realize, too, that I should enjoy today because I am certainly unsure that I would still breathe tomorrow, a fact that most people overlook.

I must say I am hit bull’s eye of what I say here, but at least, I get to say these thoughts. Saying these thoughts manifests that I am thinking. When I think, it shows that I am learning, and where do I learn all these? Actually, I learned them from the Bible I frequently read, and who owns the Bible? You own the Bible. So, how am I supposed to regard you at that expense? You are the channel for me to better understand God’s words. With that, I thank you so much, cher Gen! Sa imong pagpahimangno, nakatoon jud biya ko, far way beyond what I expected. You have a gift of tongue and God-given wisdom. I really appreciate the times when we get to speak our random, deep thoughts. You know what; you are someone whom anyone would really want to have a seat with. You don’t see it, but I, along with others, see it.

Yes, I agree with what you often say. You’re not perfect and not a Virgin Mary-like; you sin. Of course, we all sin, but the way you inspire others with your thoughts and actions make you no ordinary. That’s why I really thank God for having a friend like you.

God certainly has reasons why He chooses to place me in Thungsaliam with you and Bless. Gradually, I understand why I am here. Let me keep my understanding on my own, though.

So, cher Gen, you’re officially 27! twenty sevenbyante syete yisip jet dalawampo’t pito 27…paulit-ulit… (hahahaha)

How do you feel? I am fairly sure that deep down there are rumbling emotions. There is surely the feeling of gratefulness for having reached age 27; not all are blessed to live at and longer that age. I want to reach that age, but I’m not sure if I’m gonna make it. So, you must celebrate life simply because today you reach that age! Also, there is surely the feeling of fearfulness. You fear that you may not be able to live up the expectations entwined to aging. Yes, there are problems that come along. Some come and go; some come and stay. In spite of these, let’s remain joyous. As I said, enjoy and celebrate life! Katwa-an ra nato na sila. Kung wala man gane mi ni Bless, tan-awa lang imong picture na gitagoan nimo sa imong maleta. LOL

Pasensya jud kayo kung parason kayo kog taras paminsan-minsan. (Paminsan-minsan ra; bakak na pud ng kanunay) Ambot ngano pud na ing-ana akong way pag mag show ug care and affection to someone I walyo (value diay, sorry). HAHA Salamat kayo sa pagsabot. :D

Gabii na cher. Matulog nako kay ang mga sumpa mudaghan unya. Sos! Unsaon nalang. HAHAHA

PS: I am writing this letter tonight while watching you making your grades, but you gotta read this on your big day. I hope the people who love you get to make you feel special on your special day. Happy birthday, Pee!

Life must be lived with LOVE.



Love,
M   A   R   K   O

(the name that can melt your heart :D)


















P.S. 
I am aware of the many times I may have hurt and offended you. I am really sorry Mark. Perhaps I just cared too much and got carried away. At times, my words overrule my good intentions. It is really my incessant prayer that what you have started now will continue and that in the course of time, you will desire to grow more intimately in your relationship with the Lord. Why do I pray for this? because I know and I am confident that when you do and when this happens, your life will be filled with only love and peace of mind. You too have your own personal battles. I, myself is a work in progress. While you are young, as you said, enjoy, and in time I want you to become the BEST VERSION of yourself. And why in the world do I care this much? I am not so sure why God planted this feeling on me but perhaps because I see so much possibilities in you! You love your mom so much, I guess let's get it from there. You have so much goodness in your heart and I want you to nurture it. Pray harder because the world is so full of temptations that will lure you away from Him. You are like my sibling in another set of parents. hehe
I think I have said a lot already. There's no need for more words. You know what I mean right? Thank you Mark. I am no expert. Really. I guess this is my love language? haha! :D (let's keep this for the two of us, okay?) God Bless! 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Actions of Love

"Our culture says that feelings of love are the basis for actions of love. And of course that can be true. But it is truer to say that actions of love can lead consistently to feelings of love. Love between two people must not, in the end, be identified simply with emotion or merely with dutiful action. Married love is a symbiotic, complex mixture of both. Having said this, it is important to observe that of the two -emotion and action - it is the latter that we have the most control over. It is the action of love that we can promise to maintain every day." 
-Timothy Kellter, The Meaning of Marriage


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Life's treasures...

A friend is God's very special gift. Whenever I feel down, I try to take some quiet moments and think about how blessed I really am. Always it happens, that when I try to ponder on all the wonderful things God has blessed me with, my friends are on top of my list. As what a famous adage says "no man is an island." Indeed. I can't imagine how awful life would be not being surrounded by good and genuine people. Good friends are those who you can be with without needing to pretend. There is acceptance, respect, and trust among each one. I am one lucky person for having such a good set of friends. 

With Mark here in our so-called "Royal Couple" picture taken last February 1, 2013 during the CCS Juniors & Seniors Promenade. 

I will be forever grateful for this one special treasure.... 


My co-teachers in the English Department. Some of them I have worked with for 3 years already, and some I just got to know for a year. Regardless of the number years, I am very much certain that the bond that we share is genuine and this special connection we have nurtured for each other will become the sole thread that will continue to tie us and will  bring us back together when fate separates us for a moment. Our individual uniqueness made this friendship extraordinary. God is just so amazing that out of the mundane and simple events in life, He has allowed friendship to grow in our hearts. This friendship will become our stronghold when life's battles seem to knock us down. Thank you God for such a gift! :-) 


simply loving life ;-)

Caught myself reminiscing the wonderful memories I have had in this life. God is too good and generous that He gave me the chance to explore, enjoy, and experience life at its BEST!    


   Life is meant to be enjoyed and lived to its fullest!! 

with good friends enjoying the breeze and serenity only beach could perfectly offer!!



At Dakak Beach Resort 
with friends enjoying the cool breeze, scenery, and calm serenity only Beach could perfectly offer!!






I fell in love with this BEACH!!!












Universal Studios!!!- Bumble Bee of The Transformers :-))






    Resorts World Sentosa Singapore--lining up with 
  other foreign tourists to take a picture of this
gigantic Hot Air Balloon!!!

 
                          Heading quite a narrow cave                                   I took a breather
                               of Resorts World Sentosa 
                                           Singapore

One unforgettable incident that happened in my Singapore trip was when I conquered my fear and took this ride - wheew! It was beyond words. I wish I could go back! 



Really, I can't thank God enough for all these. There will be more adventure, and places to venture in the many years to come by God's providence and grace. Every encounter with an "awe" as I marvel the splendor of God's creations is an encounter with Him- the maker and master of all these!!! To God be the Glory!